The Castle of Forests
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"Vine-hung trees knot together to form walls in ascending circles, narrowing as they reach its peak. A formidable citadel stands at the top, bristling with thick thorns and bulging with poisoned fruit. It is part castle, part malevolent hedge-maze."[1]
The Castle of Forests is a verdant fortress of the Fingerkings, located deep within Parabola.
A Letter to My Dearest
"OPEN ARE THE DOUBLE-DOORS OF THE HORIZON..."[2]
"The Castle of Forests. An enormous fortress of the Fingerkings, one that more closely resembles a hedge maze than any castle I've seen. It consists of several walls made from knotted trees and vines, which rise into the horizon in a series of concentric circles. At the center of this tower is a citadel. The flora here is quite hostile, I must say, as it bristles with thorns that will split your skin like paper, and certain areas teem with poisonous fruits.[3][4] A far cry from Tyrant's Gardens indeed."
"The Castle of Forests was formed from the antiquated dreams of forests that stretched forever, and was shaped by the dreams of architects and maze-makers to ensnare anyone who enters uninvited.[5] Not that I am in such a situation myself. Not exactly, at least. They say the Castle was once much less verdant than it is now, when its vines were little more than husks. They say red mice nestled under ivy growths, under ancient trees that overlooked stone structures.[6] I wish I could see such a place, but for now the greenery runs strong."
"During my time here, I have noticed certain details about the Castle that an average passerby may miss. For example, the Castle always seems to face the Coiling Spire that leads up to the Skin of the Sun.[7] Do the Fingerkings have a fondness for that sunset glow?[8] Furthermore, I noticed that the outer walls of the Castle seem to be made of oak. Past those, pine. And near the center, rosewood.[9] In Parabola, the dead may rise again, and in the Castle of Forests, anything organic may grow. If I could find the bones of a fierce enough creature,[10] would anything in Parabola stand in my way?"
The Hedges of War
"The verdant fortress, formed from strangling vines. At its emerald heart stands the impenetrable citadel of the Fingerkings."[4]
"The Castle of Forests seems to be the foremost stronghold of the Fingerkings,[4] whose warring I've caught glimpses of my dreams,[11] and to which I now bear direct witness. The thorny hedges that form the Castle are more than enough to deter the average interloper,[4] but the Castle holds a location of great strategic importance that may interest a more motivated enemy."
"At the very center of the Castle lies the Citadel of Vineyards, the Fingerkings' seat of power in this place.[1][12] The only way to reach the Citadel is through a net of hanging vines, filled with protrusions which all contain coils of snakeskin - the remains of failed possession attempts.[13] The Citadel itself is protected by three walls and seven gates known as the Gates of Remembrance, so called because they are decorated with the relics of deceased Fingerkings.[14] If the Castle's passive deterrents and battlements do not suffice in deterring you, however, the Castle's palace guards and defenses certainly will, once they've been primed and readied.[15][1] Pray that you do not meet them directly."
"The Castle is also the location of the Fingerkings' treasures from the Fourth City,[16] which they managed to take over near the end of its lifespan.[17] Other landmarks include the Tower of Ivy and Loathing, which spans the very height of the Castle.[18] The Castle is also the location of the Palatinate, a structure that was once ruled by the Cats, but was lost by them to the Fingerkings. In the past, it was said to be a paradise,[19] but after it was surrendered, it was overrun and consumed by the Castle's greenery.[20][21] Beyond the Castle's rear flank is a field of yellowing grass,[22] but I do not know what power presides there,[23] if any."
The Prison of Thorns
"The Castle is a forest; its spread wild and grand. Its dungeons, sunk deep into its roots, are similarly vast."[24]
"The Fingerkings collect prisoners here like gold in a Viking's hoard. Most are swiftly forgotten, some linger still."[24]
"I suppose I would be a fool if I did not mention the Castle's true purpose: it functions as a giant prison for the Fingerkings.[24] Certain prisoners are locked in briar-cages,[25] while others are trapped within the Castle's dungeons.[24] These dungeons extend far beneath the Castle's grounds, and they swell with rot and fungal growths.[26] Prisoners may end up here if they made enemies of the Fingerkings, perhaps by betraying them,[25] or if they agreed to a deal with them without knowing the full consequences.[27] A common mistake, when tempted by one's greatest dreams coming true."
Other prisoners include lost missionaries, Devils, Tigers, and blinded Rosers.[24] Sometimes the Red-Handed Queen herself shows up here,[28] though it's unclear if the Fingerkings are her gaolers, guards, or subjects.[29] The fate of these prisoners may vary; some of these prisoners are forgotten, others still linger within their cells.[24] Some few, however, are slated for possession by the Fingerkings.[30] Whether this fate is more dreadful than the others, I do not know."
"The Castle also contains a chapel; in the past, many holy individuals were lured and possessed by the Fingerkings, and after their mortal forms expired, their bones now litter the floor of this place.[31] Many other individuals who found themselves in the Castle were silenced forever here, but they say that the Castle remembers its victims.[32] A comfort, I suppose, as I doubt anyone else on the other side of the glass does."
A Confession
The following writing is not strictly canon, but is largely based on canon sources and information.
"I think now would be a good time to inform you, this letter is no guide; rather, it is a confession. I bargained with the Fingerkings for knowledge, but, like many of the other fools chained here, I did not know I would be giving up my freedom in the process. Now, I stand within my briar-cage, as the days led to weeks, then months. I have seen many prisoners depart in one way or another; when I first came here, I gripped my thorned cage until my palms bled. Have I always known my skin would be superfluous, wrapped around my true self like a glove or suit? When the Fingerkings take my body, will they lead my visage to higher glories than I could've ever imaged, or will my face inflict countless horrors on the dreams of innocent? I do not know if I will have time to ponder for an answer; the last of the cells around me were emptied, discarded, or vacated, and soon, I will know what end awaits me."
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Within the Castle of Forests, Fallen London
- ↑ A silvered future 1, Fallen London
- ↑ Within the Castle of Forests, Fallen London "Vine-hung trees knot together to form walls in ascending circles, narrowing [...] A [...] citadel [...] at the top, [...] with thick thorns and [...] poisoned fruit. It is part castle, part malevolent hedge-maze."
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Return to the Castle of Forests, Fallen London
- ↑ Consider the Castle of Forests, Fallen London "The Castle's walls are [...] forged from antique dreams of woods without end. [...] dreams of architects and labyrinth-builders have been employed to render the Castle's layout into a grand trap for all who walk its [...] chambers uninvited"
- ↑ Sear the Castle with Viric, Fallen London
- ↑ The Affair of the Impatient Apprentice, Fallen London "The Castle always faces the spire."
- ↑ Set of Cosmogone Spectacles, Fallen London
- ↑ A Gallery of Serpents (7 FATE), Fallen London "[...] great oaks rise like battlements. Behind them [...] pine. At their centre, a gate of rosewood [...]"
- ↑ Summon a Terror-Bird, Fallen London "[...] in the Castle of Forest all that is organic may be grown."
- ↑ Shadows on the Mirrorpane, Fallen London
- ↑ Consider the Castle of Forests, Fallen London
- ↑ Assault the Citadel of Vineyards, Fallen London "The Citadel is reached by a net of hanging vines, plump with protuberances. They break [...] spilling out coils of shed snakeskin [...] all that remains of failed possessions [...]"
- ↑ Assault the Citadel of Vineyards, Fallen London
- ↑ Assault the Citadel of Vineyards, Fallen London "The defences are primed, too soon."
- ↑ Uncover the Khan's Mirror, Fallen London
- ↑ Pay a storyteller, Sunless Sea
- ↑ Siege yourself, Fallen London
- ↑ Liberate the Surrendered Palatinate, Fallen London
- ↑ The Palatinate, Regained, Fallen London "[...] the boughs of the Castle of Forest encroach on the borders."
- ↑ Leave the Palatinate 2, Fallen London
- ↑ Reach the Appalling Socialite's Prize, Fallen London "[...] you enter an empty field, on the far side of the Castle of Forests. Its grass is sickly and yellow [...]"
- ↑ The Bloody-Handed End, Fallen London
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 Liberate the dungeons of the Castle, Fallen London
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 The Genial Magician, Fallen London
- ↑ Liberate the dungeons of the Castle, Fallen London "[...] you spelunk into the rotting, fungal depths of the Castle [...]"
- ↑ The Bishop of Southwark 2, Fallen London
- ↑ The Bloody-Handed Queen, Fallen London
- ↑ The Heretic of Hollow Street, Fallen London "The Snakes think they are her guards. Sometimes she is their prisoner, sometimes their queen."
- ↑ Let the Urbane Magician go free, Sunless Sea
- ↑ Ignite the Chorus of Forests, Fallen London "You kneel in a chapel [...] clogged with the stolen bones of false-saints."
- ↑ Ignite the Chorus of Forests, Fallen London
